Summer 1988
A Strange New Pass
Thomas Worth
Teacher, Pinecrest Bible Training Center

Heaven and earth how far apart!
How different and strange from each other!
Reflections obscured by an absurd art
Are found in earth's tragic mirror.

Like a beautiful tree that caresses the sky
With limbs and leaves full of grace
So the heavenly realm is wonderfully high
With a beauty that brightens the face.

There the Son of God reigns from a glorious throne
And He rides on a marvelous steed
And the bright hosts in white make His praise known
While mounted they follow His lead.

There the Tree of Life grows its fruit to impart
Food and Life from the victory won.
There Life's river flows from Heaven's bright heart,
The throne of God and His Son.

But the beautiful tree that caresses the sky
Has its roots deep down in the earth.
In the twists and the gnarls God Himself drew nigh
And gave life a strange new worth.

When God came down through the Saviour's birth
We hid our faces from His
For heaven brought down and declared on earth
Is not what we think it is.

For the heavenly glory is not to be found
In Caesar's palace or kingly throne,
But God is a Man who trudges the ground
'Neath the weight of the world that He bears all alone.

Here Life's river flows from Heaven's bright heart
In Christ's side that was pierced by the spear,
And whoever wills may drink for his part
Freely, what to God was do dear.

Oh earth, we've come to a strange new pass
Where the glorious steed is a humble ass,
Where heaven's triumph is an earthly loss
And the throne of God is an earthly cross.